Loire Valley

Referred to as the "Garden of France," not only does the Loire Valley region offer an abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and vegetables, it also has prominent vineyards, winemaking, and a distinct châteaux heritage. As you explore the banks of the Loire River, you'll find artichoke and asparagus fields as well as historic towns packed with attractions, diverse gothic and renaissance architectures, and archaeological ruins from the Middle Paleolithic period. The wine region is a major center of tourism and is divided into three sections: the Upper Loire primarily grows and makes wines using the Sauvignon blanc grapes, while the Middle Loire is dominated by Chenin blanc and Cabernet franc. The Lower Loire extending from the lower portion of the river to the Atlantic through the Muscadet region has wines made from the Melon de Bourgogne grapes. Loire wines tend to exhibit a characteristic fruitiness with fresh, crisp flavors. Loire Valley is in Centre-Val de Loire. Find what you're looking for from your Loire Valley holiday, by planning the whole thing with us using our handy France trip builder .